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The story of our Yellow Brick Road Trip through the southern part of the Western High Plains began in the bathroom. Prior to our trip, I made arrangements with Ruth Ann at Greensburg GreenTown for a tour. I was curious about the transformation of the community after it was nearly completely leveled by an EF5 tornado in 2007.

One of the things I love most about being a Kansas girl is the remarkable diversity of this state. In fact, if you had been along with me on my Yellow Brick Road Trip through the Northwestern High Plains, you would have marveled at dramatic rock formations and tasted the rich brew of a local coffee roaster. You could have experienced Kansas’ African-American heritage or hiked miles of scenic trails.

It’s not often I get to steal away with my two high school BFFs
for a weekend to reconnect and recharge. A weekend without kids and significant
others means time for us to catch up, share stories, and celebrate with great
food and shopping.

I have a six-year-old and an eight-year-old, and they are ever-enthusiastic Kansas Roadies. They pack their own bags, read their own maps. They can live for days on PB&J sandwiches from a cooler – and they can tell you more about Kansas geography, history and culture than most. However, we’re not so far removed from screaming car seat journeys that I can’t recall the urgency with which we sang “The Wheels of the Bus” for the fortieth time. Traveling with kids brings its own special brand of joy and wonderment, but it can be challenging. With a little extra consideration, you can fine-tune your family adventure to meet the interests of your own young ones. The southern region of Kansas’ Central Prairie is the perfect place to begin your own family adventure, offering opportunities for varying interests and ages with kid-friendly accommodations and fun food options.

The Flint Hills region is one of my favorites on the planet. In truth, I do fall just a little bit in love with each place I visit on the Yellow Brick Road Trips but, since attending Kansas State and living in the middle of this vast, rolling beauty, the Flint Hills are somehow part of me. They absolutely get a space at the top of my travel list.

Looking for a road trip that inspires inquisitive minds of
all ages? Before we even returned home from our Yellow Brick Road Trip through the
Southern Central Prairie, my son Charlie was sketching “machines” of gears and
springs, my son Lucas was beginning a rock collection, and I was planning an
art project involving my favorite (broken) coffee mugs.

The beginning of each November brings pheasant hunters from all over the country to Kansas. Although our state is popular for many types of game, our upland bird hunting holds a special place and is a long-held tradition for many hunters. Scott Linden, host of Wingshooting USA, and frequent Kansas hunter, shares with us his thoughts about hunting pheasant in Kansas.
1. What do you enjoy most about hunting in Kansas?
The people, the weather, the variety of habitats. I feel “at home” when I visit Kansas, welcomed by almost everyone I meet. Kansas is far enough south that the weather during bird season is usually quite pleasant … not cold, not too hot for the dogs. And despite the cliché, Kansas is not flat as a pancake – I love the rolling hills, river bottoms and woods that make for a unique hunting experience.

Before Prohibition, Kansas combined with Missouri to form
one of the largest grape growing and winemaking regions in the United States.
Although the winemaking industry is now dominated by California, the fertile
soils of eastern Kansas are the perfect home for certain varieties of grapes. A
number of local vineyards and wineries are winning national and international
awards with Kansas-grown grapes.